COLE Skuse believes Colchester United could be on the verge of enjoying a memorable season.

The U’s claimed a creditable draw at Swindon Town at the weekend, to maintain their unbeaten away record in League Two.

Colchester have struggled at home so far, picking up one point from a possible nine in their opening three league games at the JobServe Community Stadium.

But Skuse is sure their form on home territory will come good – and the experienced midfielder is optimistic about what might lie ahead.

“A few of us said after the game that we’re the finest margins away from having something really, really good as a collective group," said Skuse, who produced an excellent individual performance at Swindon.

“We’ve got a really, really good group and we’re the smallest bits away from having a really good attack at the season.

“We haven’t shown the best at home as yet but that will come.

“We fully appreciate that last week (against Crawley) was below par.

“It wasn’t a tempo that we want to play and we couldn’t break them down - fair play to Crawley who came and did a number on us.

“But we will come good, I can assure you of that.”

Skuse played his part in Colchester securing a well-earned point at Swindon, following an eye-catching individual display.

The 35-year-old was quick to praise the U’s supporters who made the trip to the County Ground for the 0-0 stalemate.

“I thank the fans for coming down in their numbers,” said Skuse, who joined Colchester from Ipswich Town in the summer.

“I know it’s a cliché talking about the 12th man but it does make a difference because we fully appreciate that where we are, we’re geographically challenged.

“Nowhere is an easy travel so for them to come to places like Swindon, Barrow on a Friday night and Carlisle, it is massively appreciated.

“We just want to give as much as we can to them so they’re not going home in the cars or on the train thinking ‘wow, let’s not do that again’.

“You could see the way the fans reacted after the game and the way we reacted after the game.

“It was a really good point.

“There were patches in the game where we were under the cosh but on the flipside, to get a point almost felt like three points and it was a great away performance and fantastic away support.

“We do feel that we had the best opportunities in the game to nick three points.

“We conceded a lot of possession against a good side who play it very well but in terms of getting into areas, our gameplan has worked brilliantly.

“It was a shame we couldn’t convert that last little bit.”

Colchester assistant manager Alex Dyer took the side at Swindon alongside academy boss Dave Huzzey and performance director Jon De Souza, with boss Hayden Mullins unable to attend due to Covid.

Skuse says there was absolutely no chance of any of the U’s players taking their foot off the gas, despite Mullins’ absence.

Skuse added: “I want to say a massive thank you to Al (Dyer) and Dave Huzzey who have stepped in while the gaffer has been off with Covid.

“He’s been fantastic and it would have been easy for the group to say ‘look, the gaffer’s not here, let’s have a little five per cent off today’.

“But that would definitely not be the case from this group and it’s testament to the group and testament to the respect that we’ve got for Al and Dave and Jon De Souza.”